In a controversial move, Grambling State has announced the hiring of former Baylor coach Art Briles as its new offensive coordinator. Briles coached Baylor for nine seasons before being fired for his involvement in repeated cover-ups of allegations of sexual and physical assaults against his players. HBCU sports analyst Reggie Flood says this seems like a desperate move for both parties.
“It’s telling to me that Art Briles couldn’t get a second chance, or a third chance, however many chances this has been after the allegations at any other school,” Flood said.
According to the Monroe News-Star, Wednesday Grambling denied that Briles would be hired before the news was leaked by local station KTAL. But rumors of Briles coming to Grambling had been circulating for some time. Flood says the university has already started to insulate new coach Hue Jackson from the oncoming wave of criticism.
“The Grambling community, from what I’ve been able to tell because this rumor has been out for at least three weeks and they’ve kinda circled the wagons around Coach Jackson and this hire,” he added.
The stakes have been raised in HBCU football over the past couple of years, as more high-profile coaches and talent make their way to campuses. Flood believes that this hire is a byproduct of the pressure on Grambling to get back among the elite and that the Tigers may be willing to endure the scrutiny that comes with Briles if it results in notoriety and ultimately wins.
“The media scrutiny that comes with it, they’re going to be under scrutiny for a long time and some people may say ‘Hey, all publicity is good publicity,'” he said.
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